Eustrophopsis bilunulata Pic, 1912

Begha, Bruno Piotrovski, Souza, Isabella Magalhães De & Oliveira, Sarah Siqueira, 2024, Polypore fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Tetratomidae) in a remnant of semi-deciduous forest of the Brazilian Cerrado: checklist and the description of a new species of Eustrophopsis Champion, 1889, Zootaxa 5501 (4), pp. 542-552 : 547-548

Eustrophopsis bilunulata Pic, 1912

( Figs 2 , 4A )

Eustrophopsis bilunulatus Pic, 1912: 93 ; Champion, 1916: 3.

Diagnosis: Body length of nearly half a centimeter. Overall body brown to testaceous, covered by many fine setae. Eyes nearly contiguous dorsally; antennomeres I–IV and the tip of antennomere XI yellow, antennomeres V–X dark brown; clypeus inflated. Apex of the prosternal process bifurcated. The most noticeable feature is the two black rounded maculae in the upper portion of the elytra.

Length: 5.71–6.30 mm (based on three individuals).

Male aedeagus median lobe ( Fig. 4A ): slender, overall shape oval, with apical segment slightly longer than basal segment, with distal apex spear-like,

Studied specimens: 2 ♂, 1 ♀ BRAZIL, GO, Goianápolis , Parque Altamiro de Moura Pacheco-PEAMP; Malaise Mata—Trilha do Tamanduá -16,553250 -49,131511 — 880m; 29.vi.2022 - 02.vii.2022; Cols. Oliveira, S.S. & Lopes, W. R . 1 ♂ and 1 ♀ housed in MZUSP , and 1 ♂ housed in ZUFG .

Remarks: No photos or illustrations have previously been made for this species. This species appears very similar to E. bimaculatus ( Pic, 1912) due to the two black elytral maculae. The main subtle difference is the position of the black maculae, the maculae in E. bimaculatus is placed in the median portion of the elytron, while that of E. bilunulata is placed in the upper portion of the elytron, which is pointed out in the original description. Another difference is the geographical occurrence, E. bilunulata was first described from Jataí, Goiás, within the Cerrado ( Pic, 1912), while E. bimaculataus from Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, and there are also records for Espírito Santo and Santa Catarina, all within the Atlantic Forest area ( Pic, 1912). Other more recent records are also known for E. bimaculatus in the same biome (iNaturalist 2024). Whether these are just geographical variations of the same species, or two truly distinct taxa remains to be seen, as a proper dissection of both male and female, as well as a complete type revision, would be required. Furthermore, E. bilunulata has a record for the Amazon Rainforest, in Tefé, Amazonas ( Champion, 1916), but given the distance and dissimilarity of the environment, we are not sure if this is truly a record for E. bilunulata or another similar species.

Distribution: Brazil, Goiás, Goianópolis, Parque Altamiro de Moura Pacheco (this work), and Jataí ( Pic, 1912). Brazil, Amazonas, Tefé ( Champion, 1916).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Eustrophopsis bilunulata Pic, 1912, male, sampled in Malaise trap in the Parque Estadual Altamiro de Moura Pacheco, Goianápolis, Goiás, Brazil. (A) Dorsal view; (B) Ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Illustrations of genitalia of Eustrophopsis species. (4) Median lobe of E. bilunulata Pic, 1912; (4) Ovipositor of E. laurae sp. nov. CXT, coxites; STL, stylus; VLV, vulva.